06-R
258
2006 -- H 8083
Enacted 05/09/06
H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
COMMEMORATING THE
BIRTHDAY OF JULIA LORILLARD PELL (POSTHUMOUSLY)
Introduced By:
Representatives Handy, Jackson, Rice, Fox, and Ajello
Date Introduced: May 09,
2006
WHEREAS,
Julia L. Pell, known to all as "Julie", was born on May 9, 1953,
daughter of
US
Senator, Claiborne Pell and Nuala Pell, the beloved partner of Julie Shelton
Smith, the loving
step-mother
of Elise McCaffrey, and the loving aunt to five nieces and nephews, Nicholas,
Tripler,
Christine, Clay, and Ames; and
WHEREAS,
Julie was a leader in Rhode Island's lesbian, gay, bisexual, and
transgendered
community, having served as President of the Rhode Island Alliance for Lesbian
and
Gay Civil Rights, as a board member of the Human Rights Campaign in Washington,
D.C., a
strong
supporter of Youth Pride, and the Rhode Island affiliate of the American Civil
Liberties
Union;
and
WHEREAS,
Julie was identified by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force as a
"powerful
force in the world"; and
WHEREAS,
Julie worked to establish a positive voice, a positive face, and a positive
life
for
gay, lesbian, transgendered people and gay youth. She also worked at the Rhode
Island State
House
as an advocate for the Civil Rights Act for gays and lesbians, finally helping
to secure
passage
of the momentous Civil Rights Bills in 1995; and
WHEREAS,
Julie was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in the spring of 2005, and
lived
nearly one year after her diagnosis, with grace, dignity and love for her
family and friends;
and
WHEREAS,
Julie Pell passed away after a fierce battle with this cancer on April 13,
2006;
now, therefore be it
RESOLVED,
That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and
Providence
Plantations hereby commemorates the birthday of Julie Pell, and also recognizes
and
celebrates
her spirit of generosity to the community, her love for her family, life
partner, and
friends,
her devotion to Civil Rights for all, and her work within the legislature for
equal
treatment
of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered Rhode Islanders; and be it further
RESOLVED,
That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to
transmit
duly certified copies of this resolution to all the general office holders and
the members
of
the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation.
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LC03192
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